ARTE Distribution

Dive into the heart of 19th century bustling Paris, following the adventures and destinies of legendary artists such as Hugo, Sand, Berlioz, Balzac, etc. These intrepid young souls shook conventions with their words and brushes. This one-of-a-kind animated series reveals the deepest secrets of these romantic heroes. Their fights still resonate in today’s world.

Entirely told in traditional 2D animation, this series recounts the story of literary and artistic Paris between 1824 and 1870. The protagonists Hugo, Berlioz, Chopin, Delacroix, Courbet, Baudelaire, Balzac or Dumas… Young intrepid artists, eager to awaken society and break the rules using all means at their disposal, whether it’s paintbrushes, pens or guns. Their crossed destinies are incredibly romantic and their fights terribly relevant.

Dead at the age of 24 after starring in only three films, James Dean remains the icon par excellence, whose influence endures 70 years after he passed away. More than just a face and an attitude, he transformed the perception of masculinity, embracing his flaws, his doubts, his fragility, his loves, forging himself into an anti-hero. His life continues to inspire, making him a timeless legend and a paragon of freedom. 

Through his distinctive personality and the three films he starred in, Elia Kazan's East of Eden (1955), Nicholas Ray's Rebel Without a Cause (1955) and Georges Stevens' Giant (1956), James Dean created breaches in Hollywood rigidities, and helped reinvent masculinity in a more flexible way. His screen presence, marked by vulnerability and rebellion against classic masculine norms, introduced a less rigid male model. Dean, a modern man of many facets (he was openly bisexual), challenged conventional portrayals of manhood, becoming an icon of sensitivity and complexity. His unique contribution has had a lasting influence on the perception of masculinity, establishing a new ideal of the emotional, conflicted man, far removed from the unfailing heroes of yesterday. 

From Edward Scissorhands to Jack Sparrow, Johnny Depp is one of the most talented actors known for his eclectic and unconventional film choices. Discover the man behind the Hollywood icon.
 

Perhaps because the actor's life seems straight out of a movie where death, love, drugs, motels, palaces, Marlon Brando and Iggy Pop are all part of the ensemble. These multiple layers, sometimes contradictory, are found in his most iconic interpretations: often poetic and always offbeat anti-heroes: genuine American anomalies.

This film offers you the opportunity to learn about the composer's life through his letters, his handwritten notes and the testimonies of great musicians and artists of our time. 

Through writing and music, this film offers an intimate approach to Beethoven's life and work: discover the struggles of a man who never gave up.
Beethoven's correspondence and diaries make for a unique material. It sheds a light on the composer to reveal a side of him that has never been seen before. His temperament, his struggles, what he admired, what he hated, how he lived his life... Most of these precious writings are rarely talked about.

Takeshi Kitano is an international icon. We know the actor, the multi-award-winning filmmaker, but many ignore his split personality: the crazy TV star, the street kid from Tokyo close to the Yakuza, and the political satirist who blasted taboos!

Can we dream of a better guide to introduce us to the cultural history of Japan?

Rosa Bonheur, the animal painter adulated in France in the XIXth century, often forgotten in her country, is nevertheless a major figure of women's emancipation and of the animal cause.

Rosa Bonheur was a major figure of female emancipation: she was the first woman artist to receive the Legion of Honour, from the hands of another woman, the Empress Eugenie, who said on this occasion: “Genius has no sex”. She was also the first woman officially authorized to wear pants; the first to buy property with the fruit of her labor, thanks to the sale of a single painting; she settled in this property with several friends: living between women, sharing their fortunes between them, becoming heirs of each other, they founded a sisterhood that would leave a lasting impression on the French society of the time.

Official selection - 24th Luchon Television Creation Festival

Glenn Close, famous for her roles as iconic atypical women such as Cruella in 101 Dalmatians, is an ardent feminist activist. She inspires both through her performances and her convictions, prompting reflection on the role of women in cinema and society.

As the heiress to one of cinema's greatest couple (Vincente Minnelli & Judy Garland), she followed the “golden path". After winning an Academy Award for her memorable performance in Cabaret, she became one of Hollywood's most beloved and much-maligned living icons.

From a very early age, Liza Minnelli was exposed to the fascinating and legendary world of musical comedy, and though she was barely out of the cradle, she started singing, dancing, and acting. From her Oscar-winning performance in Cabaret to electrifying stage presence, the documentary explores her rise amidst the shadows of her legendary parents, Judy Garland, and Vincente Minnelli. Through archival footage and intimate interviews, it reveals her triumphs, struggles with addiction, and resilient spirit. Despite personal setbacks, Liza's talent and determination shine, inspiring audiences worldwide. With poignant insights and memorable moments, the film celebrates Liza's enduring legacy as an entertainment powerhouse and beacon of strength in the face of adversity.

Looking back through archives on the extraordinary journey of a rock giant. A singer adored by multiple generations of fans who never ceased to question his icon status and America.

Springing from a humble childhood in New Jersey, Bruce Springsteen becomes a global rock icon. Despite his fame, he remains a man shrouded in mystery and at times a victim of his own success. Balancing between a desire for celebrity and a need for intimacy, he grapples with contradictions and frequently challenges his icon status. Fidelity best defines Springsteen, as his loyalty to his band, the E Street Band, and his unwavering fans is unwavering. Through his evocative writing, Springsteen transcends the boundaries of rock to become an emblematic figure of American culture, influenced by artists such as John Steinbeck, Terrence Malick, and Robert De Niro. Our film delves into Springsteen's body of work, revealing a man whose music embodies the soul of a nation.

At the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest, Céline Dion surprisingly represented Switzerland, but this has nothing to do with chance. From Quebec to international star, this portrait traces the singer's career to rediscover a character and an image that is all too familiar, yet more complex than it may seem.

How did Céline Dion, a worldwide star who went on to become the world's most famous Quebecker, find herself representing Switzerland at the most memorable edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in the late 80s?
 
Yet this has nothing to do with chance. In fact, in more ways than one, it reveals the singer's career, and the couple she formed for over 40 years with René Angélil, both her manager and her one true love. It's both romantic and carefully thought through, over-the- top and yet confoundingly sincere.
 
This adventure, which was an opportunity to conquer new markets as it was a gamble on the part of the producer. It was to reveal to 500 million viewers the transformation of an artist, illustrating how she went from a little girl with a cheesy look and crooked teeth to a young woman ready to seize the moment. Less than 10 years after this victory, Céline Dion was chosen to sing "My Heart Will Go On", the song from Titanic which, like the film, became a worldwide hit. A stunning career!
 
Through this contest and its breathtaking Grand Final, the portrait of a female competitor emerged. And so it was Switzerland that first gave Céline Dion her champion title and attributes.

A unique film on Isaac Asimov, the godfather of science fiction, featuring his deepfake giving its vision of our future: robots, overpopulation, technology invading our houses...

The film presents the theories of a man who, back then, saw what science is bringing to us today.
With over 500 publications to his name, from the 50’s to the 80’s, he had anticipated computers and electronic gadgets invading the household, autonomous vehicles and humans' withdrawal from nature. Science fiction and anticipation stories have never been as popular as they are today. It inspires literature, drama series, films, even politics and the military. As the world we live in faces an unprecedented technological acceleration, we are more concerned than ever about our future.
 

Étoile de LaScam, 2023
Brooklyn SciFI Film Festival 2022 - Best documentary 
Sibersalz Science & Media Festival 2023 - Best Science Documentary

Paul Newman is the embodiment of the perfect Hollywood star, deep charming blue eyes with the perfect body. For 50 years, he has been on the move for new projects: producer, director, race car driver, entrepreneur and committed citizen. 

The portrait of a perpetually dissatisfied man who, driven by perfectionism but also by a secret anxiety, has lived his life freely, outside Hollywood's shackles.